Scully’s Peach Bowl preview: Oklahoma vs. LSU

Offense, offense, offense. The Peach Bowl is likely resemble a track meet when LSU and Oklahoma meet Saturday, December 28 in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Peach Bowl: #4 Oklahoma vs. #1 LSU, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Burrow was sensational in 2019

Joe Burrow developed into college football’s best quarterback behind remarkable accuracy and a sterling 77.9% completion rate. He also led the country with 48 passing touchdowns and finished second with 4,715 passing yards. Ja’Marr Chase topped the nation with 1,498 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, and Justin Jefferson recorded a team-best 88 receptions and 14 touchdowns. Terrace Marshall (10 touchdowns) adds further depth to the all-star receiving corps.

LSU will miss top running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (1,290 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns), who is questionable because of a hamstring injury. However, Oklahoma will be without a couple of starting defenders, with lineman Ronnie Perkins (six sacks, 13 1/2 tackles for loss) suspended and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (second leading tackler) lost to injury.

LSU will be hard pressed to slow down Oklahoma

The Tigers defense performed well against inefficient offenses this season and has shut down its last three opponents, but I put no stock in their ability to slow down Oklahoma. The Tigers rely on talented defensive backs Grant Delpit and Derek Stingley, but conference rivals Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas were able to pile up points and yardage on them. Those teams averaged 36 points per game against LSU, and Alabama and Ole Miss recorded a combined 1,155 yards in back-to-back November contests.

It’s easy to underappreciate the offensive genius of Lincoln Riley, but Oklahoma is making its third straight appearance in the College Football Playoff because he can game plan with the best of them. Oklahoma played downhill on Alabama in the second half of last year’s semifinal, and Jalen Hurts (3,634 passing yards, 32 touchdowns) will get things going against the Tigers. The nation’s second-ranked offense averaged 539.5 yards per game.

Defense is Oklahoma's Achilles' heel

CeeDee Lamb, who averaged 21 yards per catch, with 1,208 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, is a big-game receiver, and Oklahoma moves the ball through the air and on the ground (6.1 yards per rush). The Sooners improved defensively with new coordinator Alex Grinch, but the defense remains a glaring weakness.

Oklahoma was favored by double digits in every game, with the exception of the 9.5-point spread in the Big 12 Championship Game, and the Sooners went 1-5 ATS down the stretch because of their defensive liabilities. However, they displayed impressive determination to pull out one close game after another. After sustaining their lone loss in late October to Kansas State, Oklahoma won five of the next six by one score or less, including the Big 12 Championship Game in overtime.

Hurts performs at a high level under pressure, and Oklahoma won’t be knocked off its game if it falls into an early hole.

I like the Over. LSU figures to score 50+ and may prove too dynamic for Oklahoma, but 13.5 is too many points to lay with confidence. The Tigers will march into the College Football Playoff National Championship, but Oklahoma should reach its season average (41) and keep it entertaining in an offensive shootout.

NCAAF free pick: Over 76

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The College Football Playoff starts Saturday, but there are plenty of bowl games this week to serve as an appetizer!